To all the women who are attacking Matt Damon for saying that there is a scale of severity of abuse, that something like patting a woman's rear-end is not the same thing as predatory actions against a child ...
Are you women who are attacking Matt Damon for that statement saying that there is no difference? That predatory actions against a child are the same thing as touching a woman's rear-end? Just wondering. Because it sounds like you don't see a distinction, while Mr. Damon rightly does. And I commend him for being bold enough to point it out.
This is not to excuse any kind of inappropriate behavior, for there is no excuse for inappropriate behavior against someone else. And it's not to say that men shouldn't be held accountable for inappropriate behavior (they should be!) or that women should put up with it (never!) or that women shouldn't demand to be treated with more respect (being treated with respect should be a given!).
But it's to point out the fact that those who do not see a difference between inappropriate/disrespectful behavior and genuine abuse, those who are getting caught up in the frenzy of reporting every tiny offense as if it was a huge violation (the things that nearly all women have probably faced at some point or other, such as someone patting their bottom, brushing against their breast, gazing at their bodies too long, or complimenting them inappropriately) are going to undermine the women who have serious stories to tell.
Calling everything "abuse" - even things that would be better labeled "inappropriate" or "disrespectful," even things where the woman enjoyed it or benefitted from it at first - is going to dilute the meaning of "abuse" and the effect of reporting it. And it's going to hurt, not help, the cause. It's going to backfire! Just watch and see.
When everything is "traumatic abuse," then nothing is "traumatic abuse."
And women, before you name names and share your story, remember that you are dealing with real people here - real men, with families and careers and reputations. Is what you went through serious enough to risk destroying a man and his life?
If so - if coming forward would help justice get done and make sure that no other woman is harmed the way you were - then by all means, come forward with your story. (And I'm sure many stories are serious enough to come forward.)
But if not - if you are tempted to report somewhat petty things just so you can be part of the "me too" movement - then maybe you shouldn't do it. Maybe you should find a different, more discreet way to deal with it.
Is destroying a man and his life worth it? Is your story legitimate or somewhat petty? Are you being fair in your reporting or are you blowing it out of proportion for drama's sake? Did you find it tolerable earlier or benefit from it somehow (I'm thinking actresses and beauty pageant contestants here) but now you're trying to claim that you find it intolerable and damaging? Does it help the cause or hurt it? Are you reporting it just because you want to be part of the newest, hip, power-hungry movement? Just some things to consider.
(Just found this video about what's really going on with the #metoo movement. Lots of wisdom there.)
And on a slightly different note, about many different issues, in general ...
Far too many Americans (read: radical feminists and far-left groups) need to get a grip! About so many different things, you have become like a bunch of savage, foaming-at-the-mouth, rabid dogs during a feeding frenzy, tearing apart anyone and everyone who crosses your path with little regard for the consequences.
You don't want justice or fairness. You want to search and destroy, to stomp on anyone who comes against you. If anyone so much as glances at you in a way you don't like, you tear them to pieces, vilify them, petition to get them fired, and destroy every last shred of their life and reputation. You want nothing more than to steamroll over everyone who disagrees with you or who simply appears to disagree with you. You are some of the biggest bullies I have ever seen!
And I think what Matt Damon was doing was calling people to think clearly, to act thoughtfully and cautiously ... to stop the out-of-control feeding frenzy before everyone eats everyone else alive. And I applaud Mr. Damon for trying to be a voice of reason.
[Speaking of radical feminists and left-groups demanding their way and steamrolling over anyone who gets in their way: This story really bugs me.
Should these women be able to put their "trauma" on the same level as "rape"? Have they never been told "no" before? Has life so spoiled them and always given them their way that they would end up with such terrible, distressing, physical "symptoms" after facing a minor disappointing rejection?
If so - if all it takes is a small disappointing setback to make those women fall apart like that - then life is going to chew them up and spit them out. Not to mention, they lived through a time when homosexual marriage was illegal. Are they now so tender that they can't bear to face any kind of opposition or disapproval? And then to have the courts support the nonsense that their pain and suffering was worth $135,000? Puh-leez!
The only consolation for the bakers here is that God is the ultimate Judge, far above any human judge. And these bakers will be eternally rewarded for their pain and suffering, while the couple and the judges will pay an eternal price for their "victory."]
